The Secretary of State is the official custodian of the Great Seal of the United States. It is only attached (affixed) to certain documents, such as foreign treaties and presidential decrees and displayed in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State in Washington, D.C. Symbols: Eagle: In the center of the seal is a bald eagle . The eagle holds a scroll in its beak inscribed with the Latin motto " E Pluribus Unum". The eagle grasps an olive branch in its left talons and a bundle of thirteen arrows in its right. The olive branch and arrows are symbols of the power of peace and war. Shield: A shield with thirteen red and white stripes covers the eagle's breast. The shield is supported solely by the American eagle as a symbol that Americans rely on their own virtue. The red and white stripes of the shield represent the states united under and supporting the blue, which represents the President and Congress. The color white is a symbol of purity and innocence; red represents hardiness and valor; and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Cloud: Above the eagle's head is a cloud surrounding a blue field containing thirteen stars which form a constellation. The constellation denotes that a new State is taking its place among other nations.
Great Seal![US_Seal_Reverse[1].jpg](https://our-e-textbook.wikispaces.com/file/view/US_Seal_Reverse%5B1%5D.jpg/381943490/303x297/US_Seal_Reverse%5B1%5D.jpg "US_Seal_Reverse[1].jpg")
![US-GreatSeal-Obverse600px[1].jpg](/file/view/US-GreatSeal-Obverse600px%5B1%5D.jpg/381943518/332x338/US-GreatSeal-Obverse600px%5B1%5D.jpg "US-GreatSeal-Obverse600px[1].jpg")
The Secretary of State is the official custodian of the Great Seal of the United States. It is only attached (affixed) to certain documents, such as foreign treaties and presidential decrees and displayed in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State in Washington, D.C.Symbols:
Eagle: In the center of the seal is a bald eagle . The eagle holds a scroll in its beak inscribed with the Latin motto " E Pluribus Unum". The eagle grasps an olive branch in its left talons and a bundle of thirteen arrows in its right. The olive branch and arrows are symbols of the power of peace and war.
Shield: A shield with thirteen red and white stripes covers the eagle's breast. The shield is supported solely by the American eagle as a symbol that Americans rely on their own virtue. The red and white stripes of the shield represent the states united under and supporting the blue, which represents the President and Congress. The color white is a symbol of purity and innocence; red represents hardiness and valor; and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
Cloud: Above the eagle's head is a cloud surrounding a blue field containing thirteen stars which form a constellation. The constellation denotes that a new State is taking its place among other nations.
American symbols